There were no extra bodies rushing from the rafters to fill its small space. No fireworks sounds boomed inside the building.

All of the fanfare a frenzied Donald L. Tucker Center saw nearly a year ago was resigned to the past.

Hosting North Carolina for the first time since last January, the Seminoles were hopeful a scene similar to last year’s 33-point Tar Heels thrashing would play out at the conclusion of this season’s ACC home opener. But a sequence of late-game turnovers and a missed 3-pointer in the closing seconds combined for a 77-72 loss Saturday.

A Jackson Simmons lay-up with 3:09 left put the Tar Heels ahead in a game that saw the lead change eight times. Following another a jumper by the game’s leading scorer, P.J. Hairston (23 points), UNC took a 75-72 lead. After that, the ’Noles’ failed to respond.

“We’ve been accustomed to making pretty good decisions and closing games out,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

But not this time. Three missed shots, including a Michael Snaer misfire on a three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining, and the Seminoles were done.

UNC (11-5, 1-2 ACC) won its first conference game of the season. FSU (10-6, 2-1) failed in its bid to start 3-0 in ACC play for the first time in school history.

“A win would have been helpful,” said forward Terrance Shannon, who scored 12 points. “With our early stumbles earlier in the season, we can’t afford to be slipping up and losing games like this. But it’s still a learning experience.”

The Seminoles learned that rebounding and interior play can be a problem. Out-rebounded 41-19, they were pushed around in the low post by the Tar Heels’ quicker and more physical forwards and guards.

Snaer (held to 9 points), unhappy about missing his late three-pointer, was shaking his head and pounding the basketball right after the game.

“I don’t know that I’ve competed against many guys that I have as much respect as I do for Michael Snaer,” Williams said. “When he shot that ball out there about 28-30 feet, I thought it was going to go in just because it was him.”